7. Cf. verses 31 – 35. This was the point of the parables of the mustard seed and leaven.
The Treasure of the Kingdom
Pearls were the costliest of gems, and wealthy people purchased them as investments. The Talmud speaks of pearls as being beyond price. The Egyptians actually worshiped them. First Timothy 2:9 refers to women who flaunted their wealth by putting pearls in their hair. And when Jesus warned against casting pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6), He was contrasting the lowest unclean animal with what was perceived to be the most valuable jewel. Even prophecy emphasizes the value of pearls; John's vision of the heavenly city revealed gates that are giant pearls (Rev. 21:21).
This merchant was a pearl expert. He bought and sold fine pearls for a living. Yet a single priceless pearl, the finest one he had ever seen, stirred in his heart such a passion that he was willing to give up everything he owned to buy it.
Acquiring the Kingdom
In relating these parables, the Lord debunked some cherished presuppositions in the minds of His Jewish listeners. They believed they were destined to gain entrance to the kingdom of God because of their lineage — the same way they had become members of their tribes or citizens of the nation. These parables cautioned them not to take the kingdom for granted. No one gets in automatically. This is the gist of both parables: the kingdom of heaven is only for those who perceive its immeasurable value and are willing to sacrifice everything else to acquire it. It is not enough to lodge in the branches or be touched by the kingdom's influence;7 one must embrace the kingdom with a whole heart — with the zeal of one who gladly forsakes everything to buy one treasure more precious than anything else he or she could possess.
The kingdom of heaven is rich beyond comparison. It encompasses Christ and all that He offers — eternal life and unending blessing. It is incorruptible, undefiled, unfading, and infinite. Its value far exceeds that of the world's richest treasures or finest pearls. Yet its richness eludes most people. Like the treasure hidden in the field, it is passed over by multitudes who never know it is there. First Corinthians 2:14 acknowledges this: "A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." That verse follows a quotation adapted from Isaiah: "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9, cf. Isa. 64:4).
7. Cf. verses 31 – 35. Th is was the point of the parables of the mustard seed and leaven.
Jesus Illustrates His Gospel
If these things are foolishness to human wisdom, hidden from the human eye, unheard by the human ear, and foreign to the human heart, how can anyone perceive the realities of the kingdom? "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit" (1 Cor. 2:10). God opens hearts to understand the inconceivable wealth of riches and blessing in His kingdom.
Those who do get a glimpse of the value of the kingdom will then joyfully give all they have to obtain it. Note that the man who found the treasure sold all he owned out of sheer joy (Matt. 13:44). Sacrificing his possessions for something far greater was no drudgery for him — he was rejoicing over his newfound riches, not mourning the junk he had sold. Relinquishing all his other possessions was a joyous price to pay for such immense wealth.
That is how it is with salvation. To the unregenerate mind, the thought of yielding everything to Christ is odious. But a believing heart surrenders to the Master with great joy. The glorious freedom from sin and the unending blessings of eternal life far outweigh any cost.
Paul is a prime illustration of someone who understood the joy of giving up all things to gain something of eternal value. In Philippians 3:7 – 8, he wrote, "Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ." In comparison to the rich treasure of knowing Christ, everything else in Paul's life he considered trash.
This man is buying treasure. He will liquidate everything to get it. His heritage, his self-righ teous ness, his money, his education, and all his most precious possessions are mere garbage compared to the wealth he will obtain. He is glad to give it all up for the kingdom. That is the nature of saving faith.
The Cost of Following Christ
Must we literally sell everything and take an oath of poverty in order to be saved? No. Nor do these parables teach that sinners must rid themselves of their sins before coming to Christ. They do mean that saving faith retains no privileges and makes no demands. It safeguards no cherished sins, treasures no earthly possessions more than Christ, clings to no secret self-indulgences. Instead, faith begets a heart that longs to surrender unconditionally to whatever the Lord demands.
Eternal life is indeed a free gift (Rom. 6:23). Salvation cannot be earned with good deeds or secured with money. It has already been bought by Christ, who paid the ransom with His blood. He has purchased full atonement for all